97. Angelo Thomas (he/him), a filmmaker and mental health advocate, discussed his recovery through treatment and art

Hi Navigators! Catherine and Francis are excited to welcome Angelo Thomas to the podcast. Angelo is a filmmaker and mental health advocate, and has directed, produced, and edited two feature films, The Incredible Jake Parker and DeRosa: Life, Love & Art in Transition. Currently, he serves as the Digital & Social Media Director with Mental Health America, where he oversees the organization’s overall voice and messaging across all social media platforms. Previously, Angelo worked with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) as the Associate Manager of Communications. In this episode, Angelo welcomes listeners into his recovery journey from anorexia nervosa, including how admitting to treatment, developing his ever-evolving story, and writing and film all played significant parts in his healing. Angelo’s passion for mental health advocacy stems from his own lived experience. Since recovering in 2018, he has been proud to give a voice to men, Latin Americans, and LGBTQ+ folks affected by eating disorders and other mental health concerns. We were thrilled to have him and hope you have a chance to check out his work and advocacy.

CW: eating disorder behaviors, strained parental relationships, eating disorder treatment, talk of weight